Meet the Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1): Maybe its unusual aesthetics aren’t everyone’s cup of tea (I’m personal intrigued by how it kinda looks like an origami duck), but I think you’ll find the concept behind its creation quite brilliant. The SUS1 was manufactured with a process called “industrial origami.” Like the Japanese art of folding paper into the most surprising objects, industrial origami is when sheets of cold-rolled stainless steel are folded into three-dimensional shapes, using lasers and robotic arms. As lasers are used to warm the metal, this method is dubbed LightFold, but Stilride has patented its own version, called StilFold. Here’s a teaser video of the technology: Using StilFold, the company has replaced the tubular frame and plastic shield of conventional scooters with a 100% “organic” Swedish steel unibody. As a result, Stilride claims that its escooter is lighter and more sustainable, with 70% less components and lowered material and labor costs. Moving to the SUS1’s more ordinary characteristics, we can expect a solid performance. The two-wheeler comes with a 14.8hp hub motor, powered by a 6kWh lithium-battery, providing it with around 120km of range and enabling it to reach a 100km/h top speed. The SUS1 is the startup’s first vehicle and will be available for purchase later this year — but its arrival only marks the beginning of Stilride’s story. The company’s already planning to produce trailers, cargo bikes, and high-end bikes for the mass market. And I sincerely hope it’s going to incorporate the origami style as well.
